Calls For 2nd District Candidate Lewis To Release Archive Of Controversial Radio Show

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Minnesota’s top Democratic women leaders are demanding that a Republican Congressional candidate release radio archives of his controversial political talk show.

Republican Jason Lewis is running against Democrat Angie Craig for the open seat in the state’s 2nd Congressional District.

Lewis was a popular talk show host for many years before running for political office.

He was also a lightning rod for political controversy, and Democrats say all of his past programs should be made public.

“Any shock jock worth his salt is going to stand by his words,” said Rep. Erin Murphy, the Minnesota House DFL Deputy Minority Leader. “He has expressed his point of view and his values for many, many years. And now as a candidate, he should own those words.”

Angie Craig and Jason Lewis (credit: CBS)

Other Democratic-elected women say Lewis should be held accountable for the things he said, including what they said were offensive comments about women, the LGBTQ community and slavery.

Archives of “The Jason Lewis Show” are not available for review, so they are calling on the candidate to make them public.

“Jason Lewis has said some of the most shockingly-offensive things that I have heard as a person of color, as an African American and as a mother,” said Rep. Rena Moran, DFL-St. Paul.

Craig is hitting Lewis hard with a negative ad about his radio comments, using images of Lewis and his own voice.

Here is the text of the ad in its entirety:

Angie Craig: I’m Angie Craig, and I approve this message.

Lewis Image And Voice: I’m going to say what I believe, and I don’t care who it traumatizes. If you don’t want to own a slave, then don’t. But don’t tell other people they can’t. Those women are ignorant. They are simply ignorant of the important issues in life. We’ve got to educate them. The vast majority of young, single women who couldn’t explain to you what GDP means. They care about abortion and gay marriage. They care about “The View.” They are non-thinking. I actually believe this stuff.

The Lewis campaign calls the Democratic effort the “radio show archives distraction.” A spokesperson for the Lewis campaign stating flatly: “Jason does not own or have these supposed archives.”

“They’re going to go back, and they’re going to distort. And they’re going to take my comments out of contest,” Lewis said. “But that’s the politics of yesteryear. People don’t want to hear that in the 2nd District or across the country.”

Meanwhile, Lewis is hitting the Twin Cities airwaves himself, framing it as an attack against conservative voters.

Here is the complete text:

“I’m Jason Lewis. Every day on the radio for 20 years, we’ve talked about solutions to our biggest problems. Now, it’s time to put words into action. But all the politically-correct politicians do is attack people like you and me, who want real change. Change like growing the economy into good-paying jobs, stopping the skyrocketing spending and debt and securing our borders once and for all. I’m Jason Lewis and I approve this message because I will be an independent voice for Minnesota.”

The Minnesota Republican Party called Thursday for Craig to pull down her ad using Lewis’ quotes.

The GOP says those quotes are taken out of context, and Craig should apologize.

Pat Kessler

Pat Kessler knows Minnesota politics. He's been on the beat longer than any other TV reporter in the Twin Cities, covering state government, politics,...More fromPat Kessler